AdminKit vs AdminLTE
Two Bootstrap 5 admin templates, compared
AdminKit and AdminLTE 4 side by side: how close each stays to Bootstrap, versions, free and paid editions, costs, accessibility, and when to pick which.
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When to pick which
Pick AdminKit when
- You want one product in HTML, React and Next.js, not a family of starters that each go their own way.
- You want Bootstrap’s own components and classes, nothing renamed.
- You want an accessibility target that is stated and checked on every page.
- You want a paid edition with more pages, dashboards, plugins and email support, paid once, with lifetime updates.
Pick AdminLTE when
- You need right-to-left layouts.
- You want a free starter for Laravel, Django, ASP.NET, Vue or Angular from the same project.
Either way
Both run on Bootstrap 5.3 without jQuery, have light, dark and auto color modes, an MIT-licensed free edition and public documentation. Neither includes a back end.
| AdminKit | AdminLTE | |
|---|---|---|
| Bootstrap | Bootstrap 5.3 as a dependency. Bootstrap's own components, classes, Sass variables and color modes, nothing renamed. | Bootstrap 5.3 as a dependency in AdminLTE 4. Version 3 was Bootstrap 4 with jQuery. |
| Versions | HTML, React and Next.js: three versions of one product, built and released together. | HTML, plus six framework starters in separate repositories, each with its own page and component set. |
| jQuery | None | None |
| Free edition | MIT, 20 pages. | MIT. |
| Paid edition | PRO: 53 pages, 5 dashboards, 11 plugins, AI pages, a settings panel and email support. One-time payment with lifetime updates. | None. Its site lists templates from other makers. |
| Support | Email support with PRO, 6 to 24 months by tier. | GitHub issues, answered by the community. |
| Dark mode | Light, dark and auto. | Light, dark and auto. |
| Accessibility | WCAG 2.2 AA target, every page checked with axe in both modes. | WCAG 2.1 AA target. |
| RTL | No. | Yes. |
| Costs | PRO from $59, one-time, with lifetime updates. A team of five with paying users pays $399 once. The free edition is MIT. | No paid edition. The templates its site lists are $69 each, from other makers, with their own licenses and update terms. |
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Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions about AdminKit.
Can I move a project from AdminLTE to AdminKit?
From AdminLTE 4, most of it: both are Bootstrap 5.3 without jQuery, so the grid, forms, cards and utilities carry over. The layout classes differ, so the sidebar and navbar markup is replaced with AdminKit's. From AdminLTE 3 you also leave Bootstrap 4 and jQuery behind.
Is AdminKit a free alternative to AdminLTE?
Yes. The free edition is MIT-licensed like AdminLTE, with 20 pages, light, dark and auto color modes and a WCAG 2.2 AA target. When a project needs more, AdminKit PRO adds 53 pages, 5 dashboards and 11 plugins from the same maker, for a one-time payment with lifetime updates.
Does AdminKit have React and Next.js versions like AdminLTE's starters?
Yes, AdminKit for React and AdminKit for Next.js, with the same pages and design as the HTML version, built and released together, with the same free and PRO editions. AdminLTE's framework starters are separate repositories with their own page and component sets.
Where do I get help with AdminKit?
AdminKit PRO includes email support from the maker, 6, 12 or 24 months depending on the tier, plus the documentation with live examples. The free edition has the same documentation and GitHub issues. AdminLTE is supported by its community on GitHub.
Launch faster with professionally designed, customizable UI components
AdminKit PRO has ready-made dashboards, forms, tables, charts and application pages built on Bootstrap 5.
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